The City of Manassas recently released results from the third City Citizen Satisfaction Survey. This survey is performed every two years by ETC Institute to assess resident satisfaction with the delivery of City services, to help determine priorities for the future of the community and to measure trends from previous surveys and benchmark against other communities.
While there are always opportunities to improve, the residents of Manassas continue to express satisfaction not only in the provision of City services (like trash, utilities and public safety), but also in our enviable quality of life. Eighty-one percent of respondents rated the City as excellent or a good place to live. Many also responded positively with regard to the City’s ongoing work to foster a thriving local economy. The City’s efforts to revitalize Historic Downtown, increase tourism and promote new restaurants and retailers received the highest accolades.
Satisfaction with the City’s ability to attract and retain private-sector jobs increased by almost 20 percent, likely attributed to the major announcements by Micron and Aurora Flight Sciences earlier this year. In 2018, the Department of Economic Development has stepped up our marketing efforts, based in part on results from previous satisfaction surveys. The goal is simple: to tell our story.
Announcements by Micron and Aurora are significant, and we are extremely fortunate that each has chosen to expand here in Manassas. However, they joined 14 existing businesses that also chose to stay and expand in Manassas. The jobs have been here, but until recently, the City lacked the resources to effectively market our successes.
This year’s results have reinforced the City’s investment to market itself through the new ChooseManassas.org website, the Economic Development Facebook page, BusinessBeat E-Newsletter and the Existing Business Visitation Program. Each serves as a tool to enhance the City’s image by actively promoting economic activity within the City, including major efforts to enhance our commercial corridors and develop vacant properties to their highest and best uses.